Pivoting gutter guard cleaning system

ABSTRACT

A pivoting gutter guard provides easy cleaning. The device has a hinged hook assembly which is secured to the rain gutter. A guard is a perforated screen that is connected to the hinged hook assembly which is secured to the top of the gutter trough.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention related generally to a rain gutter cleaning system for dwelling structures. More particularly, this invention relates to a rain gutter cleaning system that a user may easily tilt to expel debris while the user remains on the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rain gutters are well known in the roofing, construction and building maintenance industries. Gutters are commonly used to channel water from the roof of a building to the ground in a systematic and controlled manner. Gutters often collect pine needles, leaves, shingle debris, nuts, twigs and other materials. Gutters become jammed when debris is washed off the roof and into the gutter by falling rain or melting snow or ice. Clogged gutters do not perform satisfactorily. The deposited debris accumulates in the gutters, downspouts and the drain pipes. This accumulated debris prevents the water from flowing and exiting the gutter system properly. Eventually, the gutter fills and water spills over the sides of the gutter. Therefore, a reliable method of cleaning gutters is necessary.

Several prior art devices and/or tools have been attempted to deal effectively with the problems associated with cleaning gutters. Some tools for cleaning gutter require the user to climb up on the roof of the building to clean the gutter. However, it is dangerous for users to climb up on roof or to try and clean the gutters from a ladder. Other tools permit the user to remain on the ground while raking, moving or pushing some device through the gutter to remove debris. However, these tools must be properly manipulated from the ground to effectively clean the gutters. The operator must also avoid hangers or fixtures placed along the length of the rain gutter system. Such ground operated cleaning devised are often costly and difficult for the user to operate. It is currently difficult for an operator to effectively clean a gutter without being able to watch the tool in action.

Several problems are associated with the use of the prior devices. Most prior tools are easily lost or misplaced and may also present hazards in and of themselves when used near electrical power lines. A problem the prior devices fails to address is the path of the dumped debris. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a rain gutter cleaning system which avoids the problems of the prior devices. A desirable gutter would e easily and economically assembled out of existing, conventional metal components. An improved gutter system would also need to accommodate various configurations at the job site and be easy to install. An ideal gutter system would provide the operator with the ability to manipulate the gutter to expel debris from the ground into a holding bin for easy disposal. This would facilitate the easy cleaning of the gutter while also preventing the debris from being cascaded onto the operator while the cleaning process was occurring.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The first aspect of the present invention is to offer a unique way of being able to clear gutters of debris without the possibility of injury to the user.

Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a gutter guard that can be pivoted for cleaning.

Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of an adjustable extension pole with an attached debris catch basket that will collect debris from the gutter guard when pivoted for cleaning.

Still a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a rain gutter guard which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use, while being reliable and durable in operation.

To achieve these advantages an in accordance with the purposes of the invention, the invention includes a system comprising a metal rain gutter, an easily pivoted perforated debris catch screen with a hinged hood and an adjustable extension pole that contains a debris catch basket.

The pivoting gutter guard cleaning system can be applied to existing, as well as, new gutter systems by means of a clip located at the front of the hinged hook assembly.

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention which will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds, are achieved by the improvement in a gutter guard system, comprising; a plurality of hinged gutter guard hook assemblies mounted to the trough; a plurality of perforated debris catch screens mounted to the hinged gutter guard hook assemblies; and an adjustable extension pole with attached debris catch basket that when engaged allows the pivoting gutter guards to be pivoted from the trough for removal of debris.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved rain gutter guard showing the same mounted on the eave of a dwelling structure.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation functional view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective plan view.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the adjustable extension pole with the debris catch basket.

FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of the hinged hook assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description of the preferred embodiments is meant for the purpose of illustration only and is in no way meant to limit the invention in spirit or scope as defined in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, gutter trough 5 is secured to fascia board 4 and roof 3 by gutter spike 6. Gutter trough 5 is covered by pivoting perforated debris catch screen 2. Perforated debris catch screen 2 is seated on gutter spike 6 when not in use which provides for passage of water through gutter trough 1. Hinged hook assembly 1 is secured to front portion of gutter 7 with two screws. Hinged hook assembly 1 allows for the upward pivoting of perforated debris catch screen 2 thereby allowing for removal of leaves and other debris. After cleaning of leaves and other debris, debris catch screen 2 can then be lowered back into a seated position on to gutter spike 6 using the hinged hook assembly 1.

The pivoting gutter guard may be composed of traditional materials, which include vinyl polymer or metals such as aluminum or steel, but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 2 shows from a functional view on an installed gutter assembly utilizing a preferred form a pivoting rain gutter guard of the present invention. Gutter trough 5 is mounted just below the edge of roof 7, in a conventional manner, such as gutter spikes 3. Leaves and debris collect on perforated debris screen 2, as water passes into gutter trough 5 to be drained off. Using hinged hook I that is connected to front of gutter 4, perforated debris screen 2 is pivoted up and out of gutter for cleaning. Once debris has been removed perforated debris screen 2 is lowered back into a seated position on gutter spike 3 by using hinged hook 1.

The embodiment of the pivoting gutter guard cleaning system invention shown in FIG. 3, generally designated 3, has a one-piece construction formed from a strip of perforated metallic or other material. Perforated debris screen 3 is connected to gutter using hinge assembly 2. Hinge assembly 2 is secured to front portion 6 of gutter using two screws as in a conventional hinge. Hinge assembly 2 is also secured to perforated debris screen 3 using two screws. Hook 1 is screwed into hinge assembly 2. Perforated debris screen 3 rests on the top of gutter spike 4 when not being cleaned. This allows water to pass through gutter trough 5 without interference from debris or other matter.

FIG. 4 shows the adjustable extension pole 5 that will be used to connect to the hook on the pivoting gutter guard cleaning system. Cleaning hook 3 will be used to grab the hinged hook on the gutter assembly shown in FIG. 2 to move the pivoting debris screen out of the gutter for cleaning of debris. Debris catch basket 4 will allow the debris from the perforated debris screen shown in FIG. 2 to be collected so that there is less need to have to clean the debris up off of the ground and the debris will also not be injuring the user when the gutters are being cleaned. Debris can then be easily disposed of in the users garbage receptacles. The adjustable extension pole 5 will consist of several rods that can be screwed together at each end to make the extension as long as necessary for cleaning of gutter on multiple floored dwellings.

FIG. 5 shows the hinged hook assembly 6 and the means of securing it to the gutter assembly 3. The hinged hook assembly 6 will be connected to the front portion 2 of the gutter using two screws. The hinged hook assembly 6 will also be connected to the perforated debris catch screen 4 using two screws. The hook 5 will be screwed into the middle of the hinge assembly. This will allow for the hinged hook assembly 6 and the perforated debris screen 4 to be easily pivoted for cleaning of debris. Back portion 1 of gutter will be secured to fascia board (not shown) using gutter spikes (now shown).

This design provides the greater benefit of increased accessibility and ease of cleaning, while reducing the risk to the user of personal injury from traditional gutter cleaning methods. A pivoting gutter guard constructed in accordance with the present invention also provides the benefit of increased structural strength in addition the improving accessibility and ease of cleaning. The pivoting gutter guard cleaning system also provides the user with the capability of cleaning the gutters from a standing position at ground level rather than having to put up ladder or scaffolding.

Finally, a gutter guard cleaning system according to this invention that is easy to install and safe to clean. Not only is there no longer a need to spend time setting up and taking down ladders associated with cleaning of conventional gutter guards, but the ease of handling reduces the occurrences of scratches, cuts, bruises and broken bones.

Although the present invention has been described in a specific embodiment, it is not limited to in spirit or in scope, as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A gutter guard adapted to be secured on the inside front of a rain gutter, said gutter guard comprising: a front portion which includes a hinged hook assembly portion arranged to secure said gutter guard to a front wall of said rain gutter, said portion being shaped to provide a pivoting means for pivoting said gutter guard relative to said gutter; an intermediate portion extending between said front portion and said rear portion and provided with openings sized to allow the passage of water while substantially retaining leaves and solid material.
 2. The gutter guard defined in claim 1, wherein said intermediate portion is composed of conventional metals, such as, but not limited to, aluminum or wire mesh.
 3. A pivoting debris screen secured to a gutter, said gutter having longitudinally extending walls defining an interior gutter region, said screen having a closed position relative to said gutter for preventing the flow of debris into said interior gutter region and having an open position relative to said gutter to provide access for easy cleaning and also to said interior gutter region, said screen comprising: two edge portions, at least one having pivoting means, each of said edge portions contacting a surface of said gutter when in said closed position; and said screen having an intermediate portion separating said edge portions and having passages to permit water to flow into said interior gutter region while preventing entry of debris into said interior gutter region.
 4. The screen of claim 3, wherein said pivoting means includes one or more hinges secured to screen and to front portion of said gutter.
 5. The screen of claim 4, when in closed position will remain seated on gutter spikes in said gutter.
 6. The screen of claim 3 formed from a single sheet of material.
 7. The screen of claim 6, wherein said passages comprise a multiplicity of perforations in said sheet.
 8. The screen of claim 3, wherein said intermediate portion comprises conventional metals, not limited to aluminum or wire mesh.
 9. A gutter having a body defining an interior space and a gutter guard which is pivotable between a closed position for preventing the flow of debris into said interior space and an open position to permit access for easy debris removal and to said interior space, said gutter body comprising longitudinally extending walls having top portions and a bottom connecting said walls; said gutter guard having edge portions and having a middle portion separating said edge portions, at least one of said edge portions having pivoting means and a plurality of hinge assemblies on the front portion of said gutter, said middle portion of said gutter guard having passages to permit water to flow into the interior space of said gutter body and in closed position resting on existing gutter spikes that are used to secure said gutter. 